Stitt Calls Meeting of White Men to Solve Oklahoma Budget…

Oklahoma’s budget negotiations are going white on track. 

Yesterday afternoon, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt convened a meeting of white male elders from the Oklahoma House, Senate and his gubernatorial cabinet to negotiate the Oklahoma budget. 

The meeting was more of a dog and pony show designed to make the Governor look good and accountable than anything else, but the only thing it really accomplished was to remind everyone about the supermajority control boring conservative white men have on the Oklahoma government:

Check this out:

Naturally, Stitt only inviting white men dressed in the same suit to talk budget rubbed some politicians the wrong way.

For example:

First of all, it was nice of Stitt and Company to allow the ladies – Senators Floyd and Kirt – to sit so close to the table and listen to the white men talk.

Sure, Stitt probably thought they were there to refill the men’s coffee and water, but beggars can't be choosers.

Second, I know that picture is an honest and accurate reflection of the Oklahoma political leadership spectrum, but you’d think Stitt – an image-conscious politician who likes to pander to people of all races if they also happen to be conservative, pro-life, evangelical Christians – would at least bring in some token minorities and women to diversify things. 

You know, maybe invite the Black pastor from that megachurch in Tulsa to say a prayer, or let some female high school athlete from a Christian private school say a few words about how important it is to allocate state budget dollars to protect women's sports. At the very least, you’d think they’d try to Photoshop in some diversity! 

But no, we didn’t get any of that. 

It was basically a two-and-half-hour long borathon of cranky white men bickering and posturing over inane budgetary details and formalities while whining about being called liars:

Sadly, I’m pretty sure that’s the only entertaining part of the white snooze fest. I’m not 100% sure because I dozed off every time I tried to watch it. If you have problems sleeping at night, just play that clip on your phone at bedtime and you’ll pass out in seconds. 

In case you care, I guess the main quibble the white men have over the budget is that Stitt and his buddy Charles McCall – a wealthy banker who’s running for Governor in 2026 – both want to pass a .25% state income tax cut that will primarily benefit the wealthy, while former Oklahoma Governor Greg Treat of the Senate, surprisingly enough, is against the measure. 

I actually side with Treat on this one. 

The tax cut will save the average middle-class Oklahoman around $120 a year, meaning the poor will save a lot less and the rich will save a lot more. 

Although 120 bucks is 120 bucks, I’ve lived here long enough to know that the next Oklahoma Budget Crisis™ is always around the corner, and with state laws making it very difficult to raise revenue, we’re probably better off investing that money back into the state so that, if anything else, we can better prepare for next Oklahoma Budget Crisis™.

Then again, what do I know?

Although I am a white man – which, in this state, apparently qualifies me to opine on fiscal policy – I'm just a dude who runs a website from Oklahoma. I'm not a conservative, wealthy banker with political aspirations who’s looking out for numero uno.

Anyway, if I can stay awake, I guess I’ll continue to provide more updates on this whitewashed saga. 

Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.